Headquarters South West (United Kingdom)

Headquarters South West (HQ South West) is a Colonel's command^[1] of the British Army formed to oversee the area of South West England.

Headquarters South West
Headquarters South West formation badge^[a]^[1]
Active	2014 – present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Regional Point of Command
Size	Colonel's Command
Part of	Regional Command
HQ Location	Jellalabad Barracks, Tidworth Camp
Commanders
Notable commanders	Colonel Neville Holmes^[2]

Background

Prior to 2012, the 43rd (Wessex) Brigade had overseen all army units and was the Regional Point of Command (RPC) of the British Army in South West England. However, in 2014, under the Army 2020 programme, 43rd (Wessex) Brigade was absorbed into 1st Artillery Brigade, which had been based at the Airfield Camp, Netheravon since 2005.^[3] 43rd Brigade therefore became an integral part of the newly redesignated 1st Artillery Brigade and Headquarters South West. Following this reorganisation, Headquarters South West was established under the command of the Chief of Staff (2nd in command) of 1st Artillery Brigade & HQ South West.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9]}

Formation

In 2014, the new command was stood up and established its headquarters at Jellalabad Barracks, Tidworth Camp alongside the new brigade's location. The new headquarters oversaw the region overseen by 43rd (W) Brigade prior to its redesignation, which included the following: City and County of Bristol, Channel Islands, Cornwall, Devonshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire. In addition to the counties which were overseen by the headquarters, some of the Army's largest garrisons form part of the region, including Blandford Garrison; Tidworth, Netheravon, and Bulford Garrison; Corsham Station; and Wyvern Station.^[10][11]

Following a reorganisation of Force Troops Command in August 2019, the 1st Artillery Brigade dropped its regional responsibilities and joined 3rd (United Kingdom) Division. Thenceforth, Headquarters South West became an independent formation under control of Regional Command.^[12][1][13]

Service

The commander who holds the title of 'Commander, Headquarters South West' is also designated as 'Director Ten Tors', which is an annual hike held in Dartmoor, Devonshire.^[14][15]

On 16 October 2020, Headquarters South West was awarded the Firmin Sword of Peace by HM Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge following its support to the City of Salisbury after the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in March 2018.^[1][16]

Organisation

The administrative organisation of the headquarters is as follows:^[17][9]

• Headquarters South West, at Jellalabad Barracks, Tidworth Camp^[9]
  • Headquarters South West Personnel Recovery Unit, at Wyvern Barracks, Exeter^[18]
  • Bristol University Officers' Training Corps (Army Reserve), at the Artillery Grounds, Bristol^[19]
  • Exeter University Officers' Training Corps (Army Reserve), at Wyvern Barracks, Exeter^[18][20]
  • Headquarters South West Cadet Training Team, at Airfield Camp, Netheravon^[21][22]
  • City and County of Bristol Army Cadet Force, in Keynsham^[23]
  • Cornwall Army Cadet Force, in Bodmin^[24]
  • Devon Army Cadet Force, in Exeter^[25]
  • Dorset Army Cadet Force, in Dorchester^[26]
  • Gloucestershire Army Cadet Force, in Cheltenham^[27]
  • Somerset Army Cadet Force, at Jellalabad Barracks, Taunton^[28]
  • Wiltshire Army Cadet Force, at Le Marchant Barracks, Devizes^[29]

Explanatory notes

1. The badge adopted by Headquarters South West was that of the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division, and later 43rd (Wessex) Brigade. This badge comprises a yellow 'Wessex Wyvern' superimposed on-top of a blue square.

References

1. "Regional Army Headquarters receives prestigious award". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
2. "Queen And Prince William Visit Porton Down Defence Labs". Forces Network. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
3. "Post Exerciser Report, 1st Artillery Brigade" (PDF). British Army. 1 August 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
4. . British Army. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014.
5. "Regular Army Basing Plan" (PDF). GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
6. "Regional Command". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
7. Swain, Shirley (10 December 2014). "43 (Wessex) Brigade Lowers Flag For Last Time". Forces Network. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
8. (PDF). Army Families Foundation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
9. "Army Update: Commander HQ South West Colonel James Coote DSO OBE" (PDF). swlep.co.uk. Swindon & Wiltshire LEP. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
10. "Colonel Neville Holmes MBE". Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
11. "From Terror Attacks To Flooding: Major Honoured For Extensive Military Service". Forces Network. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
12. Army Secretariat (18 July 2019). "FOI response: Army 2020 Refine changes since 2017" (PDF). GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
13. Allwood, Greg (24 September 2021). "Know Your Army – Weapons And Organisation". Forces Network. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
14. "Ten Tors and Jubilee Challenge". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
15. "Young Challengers Keep Ten Tors Flame Blazing". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
16. ""Salisbury Is Safe" Following Decontamination, Says PM". Forces Network. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
17. "Map/Maps showing the responsibilities of the British Army's Regional Commands across the United Kingdom" (PDF). What do they know?. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
18. "Google Earth". earth.google.com. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
19. "Bristol UOTC". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
20. "NOT YOUR AVERAGE UNIVERSITY SOCIETY". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
21. "Freedom of Information (Act) request regarding current Army Cadet Training Teams (CTTs)" (PDF). What do they know?. Ministry of Defence. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
22. British Army, Headquarters South West Cadet Training Team Course Picture. British Army. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
23. "City And County Of Bristol Army Cadets". Army Cadets UK. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
24. "Cornwall Army Cadets". Army Cadets UK. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
25. "Devon Army Cadets". Army Cadets UK. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
26. "Dorset Army Cadets". Army Cadets UK. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
27. "Gloucestershire Army Cadets". Army Cadets UK. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
28. "Somerset Army Cadets for more fun and excitement..." Army Cadets UK. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
29. "Wiltshire Army Cadets". Army Cadets UK. Retrieved 29 April 2021.